Public Account Committee cautions media about Auditor-Generals report

Agona Swedru, July 25, GNA- Mr Albert Ken Depaah, Chairman of the public Account Committee of Parliament has appealed to the media to stop manipulating the Auditor-Generals report to create panic and anxiety in society.

He said the Auditor-Generals Department was an independent state institution and would continue to remain as such to enhance its efficiency and integrity.

Mr Depaah who is also Member of Parliament for Efigya-Sekyere West, made the appeal at a three-day workshop for the Public Account Committee members at Agona Swedru in the Central Region. Among the topics treated include the "2006 and 2007 audit reports of ministries, Departments, Agencies" and "2006 consolidated fund report". They also scrutinized the 2004 audit reports of boards, corporations and other statutory institutions of state. Mr Depaah said there were attempts to finger out Auditor-Generals reports to discredit the image of the state institution and also prejudice the work of the committee.

The Chairman said there was a front page publication in the print media on July 20, with banner headline which claimed that "Audit report had exposed rot at Information Ministry". He said the report had not reach Parliament and explained that Auditor-Generals report are normally submitted to Parliament, which in turn refer it to the Public Account Committee for study and return it to the floor of the House for general discussion and action. Mr Depaah said finally the Public Account Committee sit publicly and those concern were invited to appear before it to answer questions. The Chairman announced that the Public Account Committee would start sitting publicly in August. 25 July 09